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Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Reflections on Teaching in 2016

student working on the underpainting

This year has been an exciting journey in teaching. It has been such a wonderful experience! As an artist I feel I've grown so much by sharing my classical method of painting with students and the feedback has been amazing. It began last April when I traveled all the way to Virginia to Deb K Art Home Studios and taught an intensive five day workshop to a full class. At the same time I also became a member of the faculty at the New Mexico Art League and started teaching Classical Still Life. It has been a joy to work with students and introduce many to a way of painting that is completely new to them. The classical indirect method of painting is growing in popularity and I'm glad to be part of a new generation of painters interested in techniques of the past. Many are amazed at the paint quality that results from layering paint and glazes in oil and continue to study this method by signing up for more classes.

finished and signed!

Here are a few examples of students' work:

My next class at the New Mexico Art Leaguebegins January 9th, Mondays from 9-12 for eight weeks. click below for information (space is limited!):

3409 Juan Tabo NE, Albuquerque

P.O.
Box 16554, Albuquerque NM 87191
505-293-5034

I have developed a curriculum that begins with drawing and composition. I teach how to use a basic armature and thumbnails to begin playing with design ideas. I want students to think of objects as simple shapes, the simpler the better. We study classical still life with the armature as examples. We also study the importance of value by changing classical paintings to black/white:

Emil Carlsen 1853-1932

Chardin 1699-1779

Next we move on to monochromatic underpaintings that concentrate on compressed values, we don't want the shadows too dark:

Once the underpainting dries we begin to study the local color and make individual plans for future glazes and scumbles based on the subject matter.

I introduce a glazing chart, illustrating how brilliant color can be created with a limited palette and knowledge of transparent vs opaque oil paint.

Dennis Crayon's completed artwork

By the end of the class it is my goal to have students experiment with new ways of approaching oil painting. Each day in class a new concept is introduced and practiced, from drawing and composition, value and color, to final details and color harmony. I sharedifferent ways of applying and handling oil paint. It's been quite a year, and I'm so thankful to have these opportunities. Meeting other artists and talking about art has added a new dimension to my personal art life and I love it a lot! I want to thank my students for allowing me to share their work here and hopefully inspire other artists to try new ways of painting. Here are what a few of my students students are saying:

"I have learned more in this class than at the university."

"Great, the best art class I've had. Would love to have and even longer study/class time to share with Sarah. Her knowledge of materials and techniques and help with problem solving is truly helpful and valuable."

"Excellent-I learned a lot about composition, underpainting and glazing, as well as problem solving that will help me in whatever style I paint in."

"Excellent, well organized with a generous instructor."

"Thank you again
for a fabulous 5 days. Sarah is an excellent teacher. Her calm
supportive demeanor allowed for a stress free experience. I just want to
keep painting in this style."